If your wisteria has finished its spectacular spring display and is now producing a tangle of long, leafy shoots, it can be tempting to forget about it and leave it until winter.
But don't be fooled. July is one of the most important months in the wisteria calendar, and spending just 20 minutes with a pair of secateurs once your wisteria has flowered could reward you with a more impressive floral display next year.
Not all gardeners know that wisteria should actually be pruned twice a year. The first cut comes in summer, usually in July, when the plant is putting on vigorous new growth. The second wisteria prune follows in late winter, helping to shape the plant and encourage flowering spurs.
Here’s exactly what to do for abundant blooms next spring:
Why should you prune wisteria in July?
Once flowering has finished, wisteria switches its energy into producing long stems that can quickly overwhelm walls, pergolas and gutters.
A summer prune helps to:
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- encourage more flower buds for next spring
- keep vigorous growth under control
- improve air circulation and access to light through the plant
- maintain a neat, attractive framework
- prevent stems from invading windows, roofs and neighbouring plants
Rather than wasting energy on excessive leafy growth, this prune encourages the plant to put its resources into developing the short flowering spurs that will produce next year’s blooms.
How to prune wisteria in summer
Summer wisteria pruning is pleasingly straightforward. Here's exactly what to do:
1. Wait until flowering has finished
Most established wisterias have finished blooming by July. Make sure the flowers have faded before reaching for your secateurs.
2. Find this year’s long shoots
Look for the fresh green stems that have grown since spring. These are usually much longer than the permanent woody framework and may stretch several feet in just a few weeks.
3. Cut each shoot back
Shorten these new shoots to around five or six leaves from the main branch. This keeps the plant tidy while encouraging the formation of flowering spurs.
4. Leave the main framework alone
Avoid cutting back the older woody branches unless you’re carrying out renovation work. These form the permanent structure of the plant and produce the flowering spurs.
5. Remove any damaged or tangled growth
While pruning, take the opportunity to remove dead, diseased or crossing stems to improve airflow and reduce congestion.
Don’t forget the winter prune
Summer pruning is only half the job.
In January or February, shorten the same shoots again, this time cutting them back to two or three buds from the base. Together, the summer and winter prunes encourage the best possible flowering display.
Common mistakes to avoid
Pruning too hard
Don’t cut indiscriminately into the permanent framework. Summer pruning is about shortening this year’s vigorous growth, not reshaping the entire plant.
Skipping the summer prune
Leaving all the long shoots until winter can result in an untidy plant and fewer flowering spurs.
Feeding with too much nitrogen
A high-nitrogen fertiliser encourages lush leafy growth at the expense of flowers. If your wisteria is healthy, it won't need much feeding. If you do feed it, choose a balanced fertiliser or one that’s higher in potassium to support flowering.
My wisteria still isn’t flowering – why?
If your plant remains reluctant to bloom, pruning may not be the only issue.
Other common reasons include:
- it’s still too young (grafted plants usually flower sooner than seed-grown specimens)
- it’s growing in too much shade
- it’s receiving excessive nitrogen from nearby lawn feed
- it has been pruned incorrectly in previous years
- frost has damaged developing flower buds
Established plants grown in full sun and pruned twice a year are usually the most reliable performers.
Can you prune an overgrown wisteria?
Yes. Even neglected wisterias can usually be restored, although it may take two or three years.
Rather than removing large sections all at once, gradually reduce overcrowded growth while preserving the main framework. This gives the plant time to recover without sacrificing every season’s flowers.
July’s summer prune may feel counterintuitive when your wisteria is growing so enthusiastically, but it’s one of the simplest jobs you can do to improve next year’s display.
By cutting back this season’s long shoots to around five or six leaves and following up with a winter prune, you’ll help encourage the flowering spurs that produce those unforgettable cascades of fragrant blooms each spring.
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Cara is Commissioning Editor at Country Living, covering everything from style and interiors to sustainability, artisans and the great outdoors. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in Music from the University of Oxford. Follow Cara on Instagram @caralaskaris or Linkedin.
